Is the long-awaited South Dallas community park in trouble?

Park and Recreation board members questioned the future of South Dallas’s long-awaited community park after the city’s recent split with Fair Park First.

The city’s agreement with Fair Park First and Oak View Group to manage Fair Park was terminated last month after an audit revealed that more than $5 million of donor funds were misallocated.

However, as pointed out at a September Park and Recreation Board meeting, Fair Park First is still leading the fundraising and construction process for the community park at Fair Park, which is currently in the design development phase.

The Park Board now has to approve a development agreement for the project to continue under Fair Park First.

Some board members urged for caution after the misallocated funds debacle.

“We just got out of a really messy divorce with this and another entity, and I’m not talking about where all the blame lies, because I still don’t really know,” District 10 Member Scott Goldstein said. “I would not be comfortable entering into another agreement this fast, this soon after we ended.”

Park Deputy Director Ryan O’Connor said it would be challenging to find another entity that could take the project on. There are existing donor agreements directly tied to Fair Park First, and they’re not sure those agreements can be passed on to another entity or if another entity would even take on a project this far into development.

Fair Park First has raised more than $33 million for the park, and currently has enough secured funds to begin construction, which it plans to do after the 2026 World Cup.

Some board members pressed for urgency for the long-promised park. After rounds of questions, multiple members expressed confidence in Fair Park First staff and said funds and hundreds of community meetings could go to waste if they don’t move forward.

“I’m sick and tired of promises being made to that community,” District 4 member Harrison Blair said. “We gotta deliver.”

The issue could be voted on in October, along with broader briefings on Fair Park’s future management.

Watch the 9/25 Parks meeting here and read the Documenter notes here.

About the Park and Recreation board:

The Dallas Park and Recreation Board has oversight of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.

The 15 members of this policy-making board are appointed and approved by the mayor and Dallas City Council.

The board has jurisdiction over the control, management and maintenance of the public parks of the city.

Dallas Documenter Karem Montemayor attended the Sept. 25 Park and Recreation board public meeting, and this brief emerged from her notes. Click here to learn how you can become a paid Documenter at public meetings.